Family Wealth: Keeping It in the Family by James E. Hughes Jr — the classic on why families lose money across generations, and what actually prevents it. Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations is a pattern, not a superstition. Hughes argues the cause is...
Blog
Read our latest news and update available at your fingertips. Whether you’re seeking expert advice, looking for the latest trends, or simply in search of a good read, our blog is your
go-to destination.
The Bookshelf: Family Wealth by James E. Hughes Jr — Why Families Lose It in Three Generations
Most books written for business owners are about growth. This one is about what happens after growth — and it is the only book on this shelf that is genuinely about the same problem we deal with every day. James E. Hughes Jr, an American estate lawyer of the old...
Pensions and Inheritance Tax from April 2027: What to Check in the Next Eighteen Months
From 6 April 2027, unused pension funds and most death benefits will be brought into the value of your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes. This is a legislated change, not a proposal, and it is still some way off — which is exactly why now is the right time to look...
When Waiting Too Long Costs You the Claim: Laches in Will Disputes
Two High Court decisions handed down within a few months of each other have sent a clear signal to anyone thinking about challenging a Will: if you wait too long, the court may refuse to hear you at all, however strong your case might once have been. The lead...
TLDR: Delay Can Kill a Will Challenge
Two 2025/2026 High Court cases — Stephenson v Daley and Bowerman v Bowerman — confirm that waiting too long to challenge a Will can be fatal to the claim, even where the underlying argument might otherwise have some merit. In Stephenson v Daley, sons who challenged...
Right to Work Checks Are Widening From 1 October 2026 — What It Means If You Use Contractors, Agency Staff or Outsourced Services
If you run a business, you already know that it is illegal to employ someone who does not have the right to work in the UK, and that getting the checks wrong can be expensive. What changes from 1 October 2026 is who this applies to. Until now, the right to work regime...
Seven Weeks to the Budget: What to Do Before 28 October
The Autumn Budget lands on 28 October 2026. In the run-up to any Budget, we see the same pattern among business owners and property investors — a flurry of calls asking whether they should restructure everything now, before the Chancellor stands up. Almost always, the...
TLDR: Pensions Come Into Inheritance Tax From April 2027
From 6 April 2027, unused pension funds and most death benefits will count towards the value of your estate for Inheritance Tax, with pension scheme administrators working alongside your personal representatives to settle the tax due. Income tax treatment on death...
TLDR: Right to Work Checks Widen From 1 October 2026
From 1 October 2026, right to work obligations are expected to widen beyond direct employees to cover contractors, agency workers, casual staff and outsourced services — with liability extending through labour supply chains, so you can be exposed even without a direct...
Free Estate Planning Guide
Learning how to protect your assets can feel like an overwhelming topic. Our FREE Estate Planning Guide will help you to understand the process and how to get started.